Sep 187 min read

OneShot: A quick view on Renewable energy NEWS

TP Solar Begins 2GW Solar Cell Production at India’s Largest Manufacturing Facility in Tamil Nadu :

TP Solar Ltd., a subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd. (TPREL), announced the start of commercial production at its 2GW solar cell line in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, marking a major milestone for India’s largest single-location solar cell and module manufacturing facility. This follows the earlier commencement of solar module production at the plant.

IIndia’s renewable energy targets on track, needs to become people’s cause: Minister Pralhad Joshi :

India is on track to meet its renewable energy goals, aiming for 500 GW of capacity and sourcing 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030, according to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. However, he stressed the need for renewable energy to become a people’s movement to ensure widespread adoption. Key challenges include land acquisition for projects, but progress is being made in areas like solar, wind, and green hydrogen development.

Gensol Engineering Limited and Matrix Gas & Renewables Limited has secured the project to setup India’s first Green Hydrogen Valley in Pune, Maharashtra :

Gensol Engineering Limited (BSE: 542851) (NSE: GENSOL), a leading player in the renewable energy sector specializing in solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and electric mobility solutions, in collaboration with Matrix Gas & Renewables Ltd., a fast growing green hydrogen infrastructure developer and natural gas aggregator, announced that Gensol and Matrix have won the project to setup India’s first Green Hydrogen Valley project in Pune.

Can Rajasthan and Gujarat become powerhouses of renewable energy? :

Rajasthan and Gujarat are emerging as renewable energy powerhouses due to their vast solar and wind potential, supported by favorable geographic conditions and government policies. Rajasthan’s desert and Gujarat’s coastline provide ideal locations for solar and wind projects. With strong infrastructure and energy storage plans, both states are driving India’s renewable energy goals.

Railways plans 1,000 MW solar power :

The Railways has planned to source about 1,000 Mega Watt (MW) solar power as part of its solar mission, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain in a written reply said, ”the Vision 2020 document of the Railways envisages to utilise at least 10 per cent of its energy requirement from renewable sources.”

India Targets Major Renewable Energy Expansion Around Solar And Hydrogen :

India is making significant strides toward expanding its renewable energy capacity, focusing on solar power and green hydrogen. The government aims to reach 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, driven by large-scale solar and offshore wind projects. Plans are also in place to transport green hydrogen through pipelines, with 15 GW of electrolyzer capacity being developed for green hydrogen production. These efforts aim to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy sustainability.

PM Modi urges international collaboration on green hydrogen R&D, cost rationalization :

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for international cooperation to advance green hydrogen, emphasizing the need for cost rationalization and research and development (R&D) during his address at the International Conference on Green Hydrogen 2024. Addressing the conference via video message, Modi highlighted that the global energy transition and sustainability have become central to policy discussions, and immediate action is necessary to combat climate change.

Land conflicts and population density major stumbling blocks to India's renewable goals :

India’s renewable energy (RE) capacity could potentially exceed 24,000 gigawatts (GW), yet achieving even a fraction of this—around 7,000 GW necessary for net-zero emissions by 2070—faces substantial hurdles due to land, water availability, and population density, according to a new report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

ITI Limited secures Rs 300 cr order for solar street light systems in Bihar :

ITI Limited, India's first public sector unit (PSU) post-independence and a leading telecom manufacturing company, has been awarded an order worth approximately Rs 300 crore from the Bihar Renewable Energy Development Authority (BREDA).

Average Cost of Large-Scale Solar Projects Dropped by 26% YoY in Q2 :

The drop in solar module prices contributed to the declining project costs The average cost of large-scale solar projects in India fell 2% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) and 25.7% year-over-year (YoY) in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024. Since Q1 2023, large-scale solar project costs have dropped for six straight quarters, with an average fall of 6% per quarter.

India’s Solar Cell and Module Imports Drop Sharply in Q2 2024 :

ALMM reimposition led to a decline in solar imports In a quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) comparison, solar module and cell imports dropped by 61.4% from over $2 billion (~₹166.9 billion). Solar module imports saw a sharp decline of 73.2%, while solar cell imports fell by 17%. This decrease in imports was largely due to the reimposition of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) order on April 1, 2024, prompting developers to source ALMM-authorized modules domestically.

What C&I Units Should Know Before Choosing Open Access Solar :

BESS will become more feasible, attracting increased investment.Commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers benefit significantly from sourcing renewable energy through open access arrangements. In addition to an assurance of reliable power supply and savings on energy costs, they can also make their operations more sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint.

APERC Clarifies Rooftop Solar Net Metering Billing Procedures :

The procedures address net billing when meters are non-functional The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has issued guidelines to address calculating electricity units exported by solar net meter consumers during periods when meters are defective or non-functional.

Purvah Green Power receives LoA for 300 MW solar PV power project :

This includes a 150 MW inter state transmission systems connected solar power plant under tariff-based competitive bidding, along with an additional 150 MW capacity under a greenshoe option. The power purchase agreement will be valid for 25 years from the scheduled supply start date.

Maharashtra Forest Department Invites Bids for 1.5 MW Solar Projects :

The Forest Department of Maharashtra has invited bids to commission 1.5 MW of rooftop or ground-mounted solar projects for Chandrama Forest Academy under Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode.

Bokaro Power Invites Bids for Maintenance of 2 MW Solar Project:

The last date to submit the bids is October 10, 2024 Bokaro Power Supply Company (BPSCL), a joint venture of SAIL and DVC, has issued a tender for the maintenance of a 2 MW solar project in Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand, for two years.

APTEL Overturns Haryana Electricity Regulator’s Rejection of Solar PPAs :

The Tribunal directed HERC to approve the PPAs at a revised tariff of ₹5.68/kWhThe projects, part of a competitive bidding process initiated by the Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC), faced roadblocks after the Commission claimed that the process lacked transparency, did not meet competitive bidding guidelines for renewable energy generators under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and that the deviations were not approved by the Commission.

APERC Clarifies Solar Net Meter Billing Procedure During Defective Period :

In a bid to promote transparency and minimise disputes, the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a clarification regarding the estimation of electricity units exported by Solar Net Meter consumers during periods when the meter is defective or not functioning.

JSW Neo Energy secures 600 MW wind-solar hybrid project :

JSW Neo Energy Limited, a subsidiary of JSW Energy Limited, has received letter of award (LoA) for setting up a 600 MW wind-solar hybrid power project including 400 MW allotted under green shoe option from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) against MSEDCL – Phase IV.

India’s NHPC allocates 1.2 GW of solar at average price of $0.031/kWh :

NHPC has awarded 1.2 GW of solar capacity at an average price of INR 2.56 ($0.031). Avaada Energy, Essar Renewables, Jevargi Solar, Mahindra Susten, and Onward Solar Power secured the projects, which will be connected to India’s interstate transmission system.

Oriana Power bags contract to develop 128 MW solar plant in Tamil Nadu :

TrueRE Surya Private Limited, a subsidiary of Oriana Power Limited, has bagged a contract from Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, (DCBL) to build and operate a 128 MW ground-mounted solar power plant in Tamil Nadu. It is being constructed under the open access captive solar segment. The plant will be commenced in a year and is estimated to cost Rs 5.2 billon. It is expected to generate 192 million units of electricity once functional.

Suzlon Group receives 1,166 MW wind energy order from NGEL :

Suzlon Group has received a 1,166 MW wind energy order from NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL). The company will supply and install 370 wind turbine generators for two projects of NTPC Renewable Energy Limited and one project of Indian Oil Corporation Limited-NGEL joint venture in Gujarat.

Tata Power Solar begins production of solar cells in Tamil Nadu :

Tata Power Solar Systems Limited (TPSSL) has begun commercial production of 2 GW solar cell line in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. TPSSL is a subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL). A further 2 GW of production capacity will be added within the next 4 to 6 weeks and peak production of 4.3 GW will be reached in the next few months. An investment of Rs 43 billion was undertaken for this plant.

Rajasthan Approves 13.12 MW Solar Projects To Boost Renewable Energy For Agriculture :

A petition was filed by Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JdVVNL), seeking approval for the tariff discovered through a competitive bidding process for solar power projects in Rajasthan.

MNRE releases draft guidelines for financial assistance and payment security under PM-Surya Ghar :

These guidelines pertain to the implementation of the component central financial assistance to residential consumers for eligible consumer categories only through renewable energy services company (RESCO) models and utility led aggregation (ULA) models and for the component payment security mechanism.